who we are

CCSD is a not-for-profit organization that partners and collaborates with all sectors (not-for-profit, philanthropic, government and business) and communities to advance solutions to today’s toughest social challenges.

We are neutral, non-partisan, non-governmental and independent.

We provide an evidence-based “safe space” that facilitates open and honest dialogue among the many sectors and the public. This safe space leads to innovative and active problem solving to address a wide variety of the issues and challenges we face in our society today.

social development

Social development is about improving the well-being of every person in society so they can reach their full potential. The well-being of each member of society is linked to the success of the society. In this way, social development is linked to nation building.

our mission

Nation building through evidence, collaboration and design

our history and continued evolution

Since 1920, CCSD has been on a journey convening not-for-profits, philanthropists, governments and the private sector to improve Canada’s social well-being. Each decade has brought different challenges and opportunities. CCSD has been at the forefront in putting forward unconventional solutions that have become the foundation of Canada’s social landscape.

In the 1920s CCSD helped shape the first Old Age Pension program.

In the 1930s CCSD promoted the concept of Employment Insurance.

In the 1980s CCSD put the spotlight on the plight of Aboriginal children.

In this decade CCSD demonstrated why the National Child Benefit was a wise investment and advocated for the introduction of tax credits to assist working poor families.

Today, CCSD leads a number of important local and national programs. They help enable the needed evidence base to better understand ourselves and tell our stories, using community data and research, that enable the platform for shaping informed and integrated responses at the community level.

our values

Focus above all else on achieving the social outcome needed – rethinking and reframing both problem and solutions until we find the answer

Take a rigorous, evidence based, creative and interdisciplinary approach to our work